Inmates and Scamming Taxi Drivers!

We were able to sleep in today! Wahoo! Well, we did have to set an alarm since we didn’t want to miss breakfast! We were up around 10:00am and went downstairs for the breakfast (we have missed having breakfast included). We were impressed (they had a lot of options) but they did not have any pancakes, waffles or French toast! I think they made up for it with their banana chocolate chip muffins!

After a well needed breakfast we came upstairs to “rest” seeing as we had already had a rough day! After showering and getting ready we headed out to find my hostel! Luckily, our hotel is within walking distance! It looks very cute and seems like it will be one of the better ones! We looked in one of the rooms which had an ensuite bathroom and closet so I hope I get one of those! I also think I found the closest place to do laundry (I HATE finding a place to do laundry) and a mini mart so I feel much more comfortable already! We then headed to The Dukes for lunch and it was excellent! Mom sorta found this place (with the help of the concierge) so we think she redeemed herself from the AWFUL hole in the wall place.

We came back from The Dukes to see if we could get a taxi to the orphanage where I will spend my time volunteering! The concierge said the taxi was 250 baht for one hour and it would take about 20 minutes (one way) to the orphanage so we got the taxi at about 2:00pm and off we went! When we arrived at the orphanage it seemed like it was about 5 or 6 different buildings (almost like a campus). We stopped at the “office” and I tried to explain that I was going to be volunteering next week and I wanted to show my mom and Lorna the place. I don’t think the woman completely understood (although she did speak English) because she started explaining the application process, but nonetheless we asked for a tour!

The orphanage was probably the best I have seen. I think I will really enjoy volunteering there, although part of me wishes I had been put somewhere in more need (in terms of physical help and financial help). All the kids had clothes, toys AND shoes (which is HUGE) but I will see how next week goes! It was GREAT to be able to share it with mom and Lorna so now they can picture where I am!

Next stop was the women’s prison! I had read in my guidebook that you could get a massage at the women’s prison! Strange I know! The inmates that are due to be released within 6 months learn skills (massage, sewing, crafts, etc) so that when they are released they can find meaningful work. The profit they make off the massage goes to the women who gave the massage so she will have money to start a life after her release. I think the program is very interesting and there is also a massage shop that hires the woman after they have been released.

Anyway, we arrived at the prison at about 3:15pm and told the taxi driver we were all set for the day and we would find a different way home (there was no point in her waiting an hour for us). However, she seemed VERY confused and explained that we had booked her for a minimum of 3 hours. I explained (I sat in the front) that the hotel told us 250 baht for one hour (they said NOTHING about a minimum) and we had used her for a little more so we would give her extra if she told us how much. Then she started talking about how since we went 20 minutes outside of the city (to the orphanage) it was extra and we owed her 500 baht. NONE of this was making sense and I again told her what the hotel told us so I thought she said she was calling them. But I think she ended up calling her boss, so I started calling the hotel. I explained the situation and they spoke with her. By then it was about 3:30pm so I told mom we should give her an hour and a half’s pay and not waste any more time. When she got off the phone with our hotel she said she was confused and didn’t understand why the hotel would tell us that. I said I didn’t understand either but gave her the money for the hour and a half (20 minutes of which was spent sitting in her car!), thanked her and left! I do feel bad if what she is saying IS true and the hotel messed up (although two different people told us 250 baht and NOTHING about a minimum) but I figured if she felt the need she could sort it out with the hotel since we paid her what we were told.

Enough of that! Anyway we entered the massage place and the receptionist was VERY rude and told us we would wait about 20 minutes for a foot massage (NONE of us like Thai massages!) We waited and then the three of us sat down in the massage room. Mom and I went first because Lorna’s masseuse was finishing up a Thai massage, but soon into the massage Lorna said the smell of the oil they used (it was like Vic’s vapor rub) was giving her a headache (I didn’t blame her!) so she was going to go for a walk.

The massage was pretty good, although I find the “leg” rub painful and it reminds me of the physical therapy I use to get on my shin splints! Not ok! But overall it was pretty good AND the inmates didn’t murder any of us (ok ok, not funny).

We left and took a tuk-tuk back to our hotel for a quick rest! We checked out the free food we get since my mom is the BEST and booked us a room on the club level floor! Although, we aren’t THAT impressed with the food (it’s some weird stuff) but we always enjoy checking it out!

Our plan was to do some shopping, eat around the hotel and do some more shopping. BUT we showed up at the night market and it wasn’t really open yet. It was like a ghost town! So instead we stopped at a restaurant right by our hotel (I think it was called The Sports Bar) which was excellent and had a great view of the night market below.

We left dinner and started shopping! We were actually VERY successful! I can’t tell you what I got (Stephen McGunnigal Valentine’s Day..) but we were all very successful and I thought mom and Lorna did an EXCELLENT job bargaining!

The most fun we had bargaining was a purse that Lorna wanted that was VERY overpriced and mom and I double teamed the man and got it (probably still overpriced but Lorna is happy!)

The BEST snag of the night were these HOT sweatpant type things we got for zip lining and elephant riding. Both activities recommend we wear pants, but the only pants we brought are heavy jeans (and that isn’t going to work). So the three of us have matching pants and I can’t wait to post pictures!

We ended our night with the pants (because obviously we could NOT top that) and came back to the hotel to pack for zip lining tomorrow! Woo hoo!

Hugs and kisses from Chiang Mai inmates and scamming taxi drivers.